Denying the accusation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refuted claims of its officials’ involvement in the sale of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Edo State before the upcoming September 21 governorship election.
Transparency for Electoral Systems Advocacy (TESA) alleged in a petition dated August 23, 2024, that uncollected PVCs were being sold to politicians in Edo State.
Responding to the allegations, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, dismissed the claims as baseless, urging TESA to provide concrete evidence to support their assertions.
Oyekanmi emphasized that INEC does not sell PVCs but issues them free of charge to registered voters, asserting the transparency and strict regulation of the process.
He also highlighted the effectiveness of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System in preventing the misuse of PVCs for voting.
Oyekanmi warned of imminent arrest and prosecution for anyone attempting to misuse PVCs on election day.
The ongoing PVC collection process in Edo State, starting from August 22 and scheduled until September 8, 2024, renders premature any claims of uncollected PVCs being sold, as noted by Oyekanmi.
INEC encourages TESA and others with evidence of misconduct by its officials to report it for prompt action.
Reiterating INEC’s commitment to ensuring a fair election in Edo State, Oyekanmi assured thorough investigation of any unethical behavior allegations.